The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-07-04
roroLonANrro COLONY. ].
A narrowing Narrative Of tho Hardship,
EN} ''N tho Members Encountered NV

tho Members Encountered.
BAN Francisco. July 2.-One by one
members OF the Topolobampo colony thai
WAS made up and has been recruited from
citizens oil Wisconsin, Illinois, and Other
States, find their way to this city. Their
accounts Of hardships encountered in
northern Mexico are very similar; some
men who are heads Of families, say they
would rather suffer death than again see
their wives and children live a living
death by enduring the pangs olhungerani
thirst they lately have endured, Among
those from Topolobampo yesterday were
Mr.. and Mrs, Grubbs and nine children,
who six months ago aold out their. lovely
home Ia Allegheny, Pa, and Joined q
party Of colonlsta who were bound for
Topolobampo, the veritable El Dorado as
pictured by the organizora Of the colony.
Mr.. Gruhbs tells h!H story thus: 81 &
"Befors leaving for Pennsylvania had
to subscribe for 100 shares Of stock at a
cost OF $40 per share. I alao had to psy
$50 apiece into the funds OF the colony for
the purchase Of provisiors Tor myself,
wife and nine children; I was notified to
meet the rest Of the co!onis.a in Kansas
Uity: A party Of thirty.hve left this place
and landed at Topolobampo on the even
ing Of January 0. 0. K. Owens, president
and sole controller OF the colony, met us
at Rinion and accompanied Us the reat OF
the way. The fret thing that was done
upon our arrival was to notify us to turn
all our money and supplies into tho gem
eral lund. 10 this We at first objected,
but at laet were obliged-yes, forced-to
obey. All property Of colonists is aup.
posed to BIZ turned into general store. II
one man goes there with nothing and an.
other man with a fortune, upon their or.
rival they are put on equal footings, as
socialistic doctrines prevail. Thousands
! Of dollarn have been paid into the treasury
Of the colony, but nearly all Of this has
beon appropriated by the president Of the
company and the directors, who each re-.
ceivs y salary OF 500 month. The prin-
cipal duty Of these directors scems 10 be
10 extort every dollar from coloniste, and
to write roseste lsttera to eastern people
about the beauty and undeyeloped wealth
Of Topolobampo. While in Kaueas CITY
! heard one director lecture on the cout,-
try. He said the colonists lived on the
finest OF the land; that Strawberries, pine
apples, watermelons, and all kinds OF veg
etables wero on the table three times a
day; that when workmen were tired from
their labors they lay down under the in.
yising shade Of some fragrant magnolia
tree and refreshed themselves with the
perfume of it's blossoms. The truth is
sha. during my stay OF ak weeks I did
noStaste fruit Of any description and had
vegetables Qettuce) but once. There is
not magnolia tree within $50 miles OF
Topolcbampo. 1t is wonder to me how
got away after all the money was taken
from me. Fourteen Of the party left
the latter part Of May. Two weeks later
thirty.one OF us left, and on the 9th OF
Juno twe1ty-more deserted. Atthe time
they had nothing to eat but cracked corn
ground in coffee mill and boiled fsh.
The corn was about exhausted, only
eEough b being on hand for the following
day. tits impossible to produce any ything
at most places in the colony, there being
no water with which to irrigate. Tho we'll
was dug about three miles inland. On 60.
ing down six.y.eight feet water was struck
but on tasting it WAS found as salt as the
ocean. Tho health OF tho colonists is
miserable. Several have died from ty-
phoid fever. An unknown dineaso is
prevalent which is entirely now 10 all the
colony. The victims are attached with q
raging fever, they swell up, and the atom
ach bursts open. 1t ia the most loathsome
thing I have ever seen. 1t was the Gus
tom, until prevented by the Mexican gov
ernment, TO take badies OF the dead and
throw them to tho sharks, which swarm
In the bay. l tell you the people will learn
tho truth Of that Topolobampo scheme
one OF these days" s, Z. .E.!